Inovio Product Pipeline: V930: Breast/Colorectal/Ovarian/Lung Cancers

Product & Indication
Plasmid V930 is a proprietary, therapeutic DNA vaccine candidate being developed by Merck. This vaccine is designed to target cancers expressing the antigens HER-2 and/or CEA, which include breast, colorectal, ovarian, and non-small cell lung cancer. The vaccine is being delivered using Inovio's MedPulser® DNA Delivery System. The plasmid vaccine is delivered into muscle tissue with the assistance of electroporation with the goal of achieving expression of the HER-2 and CEA antigens.

Market Potential
Breast, colorectal, ovarian, and non-small cell lung cancers represent in aggregate an annual incidence of 570,000 in North America alone. An analysis of current treatments for such cancers suggests that potential pricing for a new DNA vaccine could be approximately $30,000 per course of treatment, suggesting a potential market size in North America of US$17 billion.

Technical
No further details disclosed regarding the vaccine.

Stage of Development
Phase: I, treating patients with breast, ovarian, non-small cell lung and colorectal cancer. Conducted by Merck
Purpose: To determine the safety/tolerability and immunogenicity of an experimental vaccine given as intramuscular injections followed by electroporation in cancer patients.
Study Type: Interventional
Study Design: Treatment, Non-Randomized, Open Label, Uncontrolled, Single Group Assignment, Safety/Efficacy Study
Study Start Date: October 2005
Status: Enrolment completed
For more information: www.clinicaltrials.gov   Identifier: NCT00250419

Commercialization
Vaccine: owned by Merck.
Delivery technology: owned by Inovio.
License agreement: Financial details undisclosed. Merck paid a $2M milestone payment in July 2005, triggered by the filing of an IND. The deal includes additional milestone payments, development fees, royalties, and a supply agreement based on progression of the program.